Despite a number of semi-finals placements in the 1960s, Connecticut is overall one of the least successful states at Miss USA. From 1969 until 2002, not one Miss Connecticut USA had placed at the national competition. In 2002, this spell was broken by Alita Dawson, who placed 4th runner-up. Dawson was one of three former Miss Connecticut Teen USAs to win the Miss crown (although a former Miss Wisconsin Teen USA also won this competition).